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Career and Education Opportunities in Iowa

Iowa photo by Bill Whittaker

Iowa has a population of 3,007,856, which has grown by 2.79% over the past decade. Nicknamed the "Hawkeye State," Iowa's capital and largest city is Des Moines. In 2008, there were a total of 2,025,350 jobs in Iowa. The average annual income was $37,509 in 2008, up from $35,755 in 2007. The unemployment rate in Iowa was 6.0% in 2009, which has grown by 1.6% since the previous year. Roughly 21.2% of Iowa residents have college degrees, which is lower than the national average.

The top industries in Iowa include machinery manufacturing, agriculture, construction, and mining machinery manufacturing, and grain milling. Notable tourist attractions include the Science Center of Iowa, the Italian, and the Hubbell Historical Center.

Creative industry professionals cover a wide spectrum of positions such as Art Director, Craftsman, Multi-Media Artists or Animators, and Florists to Writers, Directors and Actors. Their work includes the development and the creation of original ideas and works, reproductions of existing products, and the implementation of promotional needs, all aimed to achieve a specific artistic or social goal.

The main focus for workers in Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance is to plan, organize, direct and carry out activities in order to keep buildings, exterior grounds and other facilities clean and orderly. These opportunities range from being a grounds foreman or building maintenance person to tree trimmer.

People working in the Business and Financial Operations industry carry out a broad range of services to understand or improve the financial state of a wide variety of enterprises. Working in positions such as claims adjuster, insurance auditor and appraiser, and property inspector, they examine, evaluate and maintain records.

The main functions for people interested in Community and Social Services are to provide counsel, support and assistance to members of the community in regards to their physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs. They are trained to address larger societal problems such as race, class, and poverty, and usually possess exceptional integrity and a strong desire to help others.

Professionals in the field of Computers and Mathematics solve a variety of technical problems including those involved in the design, development, installation, and ongoing modification of computerized data processing systems. They are responsible for many of the recent innovations in technology occurring almost daily, and their work has become the foundation for many consumer products and applications.

Construction and Extraction industry professionals construct, maintain, and repair buildings and other similar physical structures, including facilities for mining minerals and oil and gas. They must understand spatial relationships and mechanical systems and be good at articulating their ideas and solving complex problems.

Professionals in the Education, Training and Library fields provide resources and guidance to students in almost every academic discipline. They must be great communicators, dependable and trustworthy, and want to share knowledge and experiences. The information they teach or provide covers a broad range of topics and interests, including English, History, Law, Science, and Library and Information Sciences.

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry professionals plant, cultivate, and harvest field crops, catch and gather aquatic animals for human consumption, and perform labor necessary to maintain and protect forested areas. They must always balance the need for profitability with the concerns of the larger environment.

Workers in Food Preparation and Service engage in the preparing and serving of food. This industry includes restaurants, catering businesses, cafeterias, and other food service establishments that provide meals and snacks to the public. Workers must cooperate well with follow employees, must be friendly and helpful to patrons, and must be capable of dealing with others in stressful situations.

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical professionals diagnose and treat diseases and injuries, and assist in the promotion of good general health and preventative care. The wide range of professions in this field includes dentists, chiropractors, nurses, pediatricians, and radiologists.

Under direct supervision of nursing and medical staff, Healthcare Support professionals provide routine patient care as well as support to other medical professionals. They also help care for the disabled, assist in rehabilitation efforts, and increase the level and overall efficiency of patient care.

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair professionals coordinate and perform activities to install and maintain a variety of electronic and non-electronic equipment and components. Professions include groundskeepers, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, etc., and other areas that deal with continued maintenance and repair of equipment or systems.

Legal professionals deal with general legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, advise clients on legal transactions, and may specialize in one area of law or practice in several areas of both criminal and civil proceedings. They are trained to apply the theories and practices of law in an unbiased manner that ensures integrity in determining and acting in the best interests of their clients.

Professionals in chemistry, physics, biology, psychology, and other physical, life, and social sciences study the nature and processes of the physical, living, and human world. These fields assemble information and evidence to better understand our environment as well as ourselves, which leads to improvements in our current living environments and communities.

Management professionals determine and formulate policies to provide overall direction, guidelines, standards of practice, and daily operations for companies in the public and private sector. They are usually the main points of contact when discussing or interpreting corporate policy, and are required to address multiple issues simultaneously and coordinate the efforts of other workers.

Personal Care and Service workers provide assistance to consumers in personal hygiene, including care and maintenance to enhance an individual's appearance. Workers in this field also provide services in the entertainment and gaming industries.

Most individuals involved in Production create and distribute goods for consumer use. They are often responsible for moving a product from initial creation or manufacture, through distribution channels, to the actual consumer.

In general, Protective Services workers provide an array of services to safeguard and protect the community from crime, fire and other illegal or harmful activities. Their services are often provided to the public without fee and are considered basic public services.

Sales professionals implement and coordinate directed sales initiatives aimed at increasing sales and profitability. Some of these workers interact directly with the customers and other sales workers handle infrastructure and marketing strategies.

Transportation and Material Moving professionals coordinate and carry out logistical activities of labor and material movers, and operate transportation mechanisms and systems. Their responsibilities may also include calculating load weights and planning and determining costs for different methods of transportation using data and computers.